Benapilot's SCA 150 Upgrade

[BirdGuy21]

Measure twice, cut once!

Haha a skill I am still working on...!

 

[benapilot]

I'm considering a couple flow sensors and the Apex FMM for my returns. I'd plumb them just before the check valves on the returns....

Not real good reviews on BRS. Anyone have any experience with these?

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I have been thinking the same but like you said the reviews are not so good

 

[benapilot]

Now another conundrum....

I got a BRS gift card for Christmas!
I’m Considering either an AquaticLife T5 hybrid fixture, or possible a couple Gyre 4k’s....

choices, choices!

 

[benapilot]

I’ve been researching what fish to put in this new 150....

Currently I have:
Flame Angel (keeper)
Coral Beauty (keeper)
Flame Hawk (keeper)
2x Blue Damsels (keepers)
Neon Dottyback (keeper)
Ocellaris/Percula Clown (keeper, unless I decide to get a pair or something else)
Maroon Clown (not keeping- he’s a bully!)
Lunare Wrasse (not keeping- eats my clean up crew)
Sixline Wrasse (not keeping- will most likely bully any additional fairy wrasses)
Niger Trigger (maybe keeper? Not sure if he eats hermits or not)
Lawnmower Blenny (maybe keeper? can I keep more than one blenny?)
3x Rose Bubble tip anemones (NOT keeping- I am done with anemones! Too many splits and they wind up killing my corals)

Future Addition dream list:
Purple Tang
Hippo Tang
Copperband Butterfly
Emperor Angel
3 or 4 Wrasses (Melanarus, Mystery, Flashers)
Royal Gramma
Blue Throat Trigger (only if I don’t keep the Niger Trigger)
Starry Blenny (only if I don’t keep the Lawnmower Blenny)
Midas Blenny
Blue Spot Jawfish

 

[JArnold]

amazing build! Love the stand!

 

[Super Fly]

following

 

[Tiptoes1228]

Stand dimensions:
Top 60” x 24”
Base 60” x 30”
38” Tall
2” steel tubing, don’t remember the thickness... 1/4”?

With 3/4” plywood under the tank (as recommended by SCA), the rim is at 63”, perfect for almost straight viewing (I’m 5’10”).
I made the base bigger for two reasons: 1) so that I have a little room in the cabinet in front of my sump, and 2) so there’s a more vertical run for the drains.
Here’s a top down view (I haven’t installed the overflow yet)

I like how you designed your stand. I received a SCA 150g tank for Christmas, and will be following your build out. Thanks for sharing your progression and though process!

 

[benapilot]

I like how you designed your stand. I received a SCA 150g tank for Christmas, and will be following your build out. Thanks for sharing your progression and though process!

Wow! What a great Christmas present!!!

We spend Christmas and New Years in Hawaii so I haven’t been able to get anything done... and now I’m on a three-day work trip.

I’m anxious to get back at it!

 

[benapilot]

I have been thinking the same but like you said the reviews are not so good

I decided not to get the FMM and flow sensors... there comes a point where it gets too complex! Lol.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

very nice build is the overflow silent just curious i have been looking to replace my ghost overflow its so loud

 

[benapilot]

Don't know yet. I'm hoping to fill it with water today and test stuff out... Stay tuned!!

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

i have the sca 120 i love it if i had a little bit more room in my living room would of went with the 150 i love the depth of the 4 foot 150

 

[benapilot]

There’s water in it! It’s still in my garage and this is just temporary fresh water, but I wanted to test and make sure the plumbing works!

The Exotic Marine overflow is silent. It took a little trial and error to get the level in the external box just right. I’ve got three ways to adjust: the gate valve and two return pumps. I’ve got my new COR20 and a spare Jecod DCT-8000 running. I’m running both pumps at about 30%. Any more and I’ve got a lot of flow through the secondary with the primary gate valve wide open. It’ll be interesting to see how it is with my existing COR15.

Here’s a video of it running. Note that the Jecod pump is what you hear. The COR is much quieter.

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I have the Same overflow and running a Coralbox 12000 pump for return on the same tank, Durning my 3 day leek test the overflow is COMPLEATLY silent once I got it died in/ That only took about 10 min to get it right.

 

[Super Fly]

There’s water in it! It’s still in my garage and this is just temporary fresh water, but I wanted to test and make sure the plumbing works!

The Exotic Marine overflow is silent. It took a little trial and error to get the level in the external box just right. I’ve got three ways to adjust: the gate valve and two return pumps. I’ve got my new COR20 and a spare Jecod DCT-8000 running. I’m running both pumps at about 30%. Any more and I’ve got a lot of flow through the secondary with the primary gate valve wide open. It’ll be interesting to see how it is with my existing COR15.

Here’s a video of it running. Note that the Jecod pump is what you hear. The COR is much quieter.

wow that's amazing how dead silent it is!!!
next tank I'm definitely using this

 

[benapilot]

Equipment cabinet is done!
I built a little “box” inside the stand out of PVC planks. The “interactive“ modules will be accessible from the side of the stand. The power bricks and a rats nest of cabling will be hidden behind three magnetically attached panels accessible from the inside of the stand.

I’ll need to figure out how to route the wiring to my pumps in a way that makes them super easy to remove for cleaning.

 

[benapilot]

Burning in my T5 lights!
Aquatic Life DX18 48” fixture.
1 each: Coral+, Blue+ Purple+, True Actinic.

 

[benapilot]

I’m almost ready to tear down the 75!
I’ve got a couple 55 gallon totes and the new sand ready. I’ll transfer all the water into these totes as well as the rocks and coral. I’ll put a heater and power head in the tub. I need to build some sort of rig to put a light up over it for the corals (not sure how long the move will take). In another room, I’ve got a little Fluval EVO 13.5 set up for the fish.

Getting close!!!

 

[benapilot]

The 150 will be moving into the house tomorrow! I’ve got some teenage boys from church coming over do the job!

This tub is ready for water, rocks and coral! My two Hydra 26 fixtures will rest on the 2x4s.